Adjustable coupling means



March 19, 1929.

F. A. DAVIDSON ADJUSTABLE COUPLING MEANS Original Filed Jan. 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 9, 1929- F. A. DAVIDSON ,7 5

ADJUSTABLE COUPLING MEANS Original Filed Jan. 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l" '1 j w .l

auvmto'c Patented Mar. 19,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FBEDEBIO A. DAVIDSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB 'I'O AJIEBICAN SAFETY DEVICE (30., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

. ADJUSTABLE courmne means.

Original application filed January 26, ,1926, Serial No. 83,805. Divided and this application filed February 1, 1928.

The invention herein pertains to coupling devices, and particularly to means for ad justably connecting elements that" intersect at varying angles. The invention is especially adapted for use with scaffolds and similar supporting structures of a framework type. k 7 An object of'my improvements is to'pro vide a simple coupling device with its principal members permanently but movably united and no loose, or separate parts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coupling device which can be quickly attached and secured firmly in the position necessary to hold the connecting elements rigidly togethen' Y I Thislinvention comprises two clamps for engagement with th'eelementsto be coupled,

- said clamps having adjacent connected sections to be, located between said elements; and a movablesection connected to eachof the first named sections; together with securingmeans for the latter sections, so as to tighten the same upon said elements wherebythe device is held fast.

I also provide an adjustable connection 1 between the two clamps whereby said clamps can be readily engaged with. the respective elements-to be coupled, although the planes in-which said elements may e positioned may intersect each other at an angle of eater or less than 90. 1

. Further advantages and features of the improved coupling device, and the form,

construction and relative arrangement of its several. arts will be hereinafter more fully set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

t The drawin s show'several embodiments of the invention, and the same reference characters designate the same parts throughout the several views,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one form of my improved coupling device as applied in use;

Figure 2 is a to view thereof;

Figure 3 shows ow another form of cou-' 'pling-can have the axes of the two principal parts arranged in different angular relation to each other. This case is a division of my application Ser. No. 83,805, for patent on coupling. devices, filed Jan. 26, 1926.

Reference numerals 5 and 6 on Figs. 2 and- Serial No. 250,968.

3, indicate two supporting elements, which may be tubular or cylindrical, or otherwise shaped, in a scaffold or other structure, and

WhlCh are to be connected and rigidly held in any desired fixed angular relation.

The couphng device consistsof two clamps or couphn sleeves engageable with thesupporting e ements, each of said clamps including a substantially semi-cylindrical sec-- The clamps also include each a movable section llcomplementary in form or shape 'to'the sections 7 and provided upon one of 'itsedgeswith ears or lugs 12 adapted to be assembled with the spaced ears or "lugs 10 on the sections 7. These ears l0 and 12 are apertured to receive the pivot pin 13, whereby the-section 11 of each clamp is'pivotally connected along one of its edges with the section 7 for swinging movement relative thereto: Upon the opposite longitudinal edge of the pivoted section 11 a laterally projecting lug ,14 is formed, said 111 being slotted or bifurcated as at 15 :fort e reception of a bolt 16 having one of its ends positioned between the spaced ears 8 9r 9 as the case may be, and loosely engaged for swinging movement upon the pivot pin 17 fixed in said Each of the bolts 16 is threaded to receive a suitable clamping nut 18, which is adapted to engage against the outer side of the lug 14 on the adjacent clamping section 11 to urge the latter and the opposed section 7 of the clamp into tight clamping engagement upon the opposite sides of one of the supporting elements 5 or 6.

It will be apparent that a coupling device of the above description may be very easily and quickly applied and adjusted so as to rigidly connect or couple the members 5 and 6 positioned at an angle to each other, and

positively hold the same against relative movement. Thus, it is only necessary, when the two elements 5 and 6 are set, to engage the sections of the two clamps which are open, with the o posed sides of said elements at the point 0 intersection. The pivoted clamp sections 11 are then swung to closed position against the opposite sides of said elements, the bolts 16 swung inwardly into the Slots 15 in the lugs 1 and the nuts 18 finally adjusted by means of a suitable wrench so as to cause the two sections of each clamp to exert the desired tight frictional binding pressure upon the supporting elements. It will be noted that when the device is applied, all of the parts thereof are in assembled relation, and it is not necessary to carry a large number of separate parts to be successively assembled as the deviceis applied. Therefore, the necessary adjustments may be very easily and quickly made, and the time consumed in the operation of securely and effectively coupling the two supporting elements 5 and 6 with each other is thereby reduced to a minimum. One of the coupling sleeves has a. plate 28 integrally formed on one side of one section 7 thereof. A similar plate 29 of the same diameter is spaced from one side of the secformed upon and integral with the body of the section 7 of the coupling sleeve. Bolts 25 are engaged through openings in the plate 28 and extend through the slot 31. The spaces; indicated at 32 between the parts 30 afford access to the bolt heads which are engaged upon the inner face of the plate 29 at opposite sides of the slot 31 as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The nuts 26 are threaded upon the other ends of said bolts. In order to positively prevent relative turning movement of the two parts of the coupling after they have been adjusted, the face of the plate 28 is provided at its outer edge with a continuous annular series of teeth or serrations 33 while the opposed face of the outer edge portion of the plate 29 is provided at diametrically opposite points with a series of similar teeth or serrations 34 to interlock with the teeth 33 when the nuts 26 are tightened on the bolts 25. It will be apparent that by reason of this interlocking connection, the bolts 25 are. relieved of stra'ins which might occur from the tendency of the two parts of the coupling to rotate under pressure in relatively opposite directions.

These plates 28 and 29 provide bearing parts for the two clamps or sleeves andadmit angular adjustment of theslceves relative to each other, and the teeth 33 and 34 provide the interlocking portions of the bearing parts. The bolts 25 provide means for rigidly securing the sleeves from displacement when adjusted and retain the bearing parts in interlocked engagement with each other.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a slight modification of this interlocking means for the coupling parts, wherein the plate 29 may be ited by 'the number of the key receiving grooves or recesses .36.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that the form, construction and several advantages of the device will be clear. In each case, it will be appreciated that the device will have maximum strength and durability while at the same time, it is of comparatively light weight and can be easily handled and quickly applied to securely couple the two elements together. I

have referred to certain constructions, which I-believe to be thoroughly practical, but it will nevertheless be understood that the device may be susceptible to embodiment in various other alternative structures and I accordingly reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the various elements as may-be fairly incorporated within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. device for coupling elements, comprising two clamps each consisting of an elongated sleeve having relatively movable sections to embrace one of said elements bolts pivotally connected with one edge 0% each section intermediate its ends, the other section of each sleeve being provided with a bifurcated lug to receive one of said bolts, nuts threaded upon said bolts to cooperate with said lugs andurge the latter sections into clamping engagement uponthe respective elements, a plate rigidly secured to a section of each clamp, and means for adjustably securing said plates together.

2. A device for coupling elements, comprising two clamps each consisting of an elongated sleeve having relatively movable sections to embrace one of said elements, plates on adjacent sections of said sleeves, bolts pivotally connected with one edge of each section intermediate its ends, the other section of each sleeve being provided with a bifurcated lug to receive one of said bolts, nuts threaded upon said bolts to cooperate with said lugs and urge the latter sections into clamping engagement upon the respective elements, one of said plates having a slot therein, and arcuatc flanges on opposite edges, and bolts passing through said plate between the flanges to secure the other plate moaeie 3'. A device for coupling elements, comprising two clamps each consisting of an elongated sleeve having relatively movable sections to embrace one of said elements, lplates on adjacent sections of said sleeves,

olts pivotally connected with one edge of each section intermediate its ends, the other section of each sleeve being provided with a bifurcated lug to receive one of said bolts, nuts threaded upon said bolts to cooperate with said lugs and urge the latter sleeve sections into clamping engagement upon the respective elements, one of said plates having a slot therein, and arcuate flanges on opposite edges,and bolts passing through said plate between its ends to secure the I other plate thereto, the plates being adjustable when the bolts are loosened to changethe relative position of said clamps, said plates having interengaging teeth to prevent relative movement.

4. A device for coupling elements, com-- prising two clamps each consisting of an elongated sleeve having relatively movable sections to embrace one of said elements,

plates on adjacent sections of said sleeves,

bolts pivotally connected with one edge of nuts threaded upon said bolts to cooperate with said lugs and urge the latter sleeve sections into clamping engagement upon the respective elements/One of said plates having a slot therein, and arcuate flanges on each member, each clamp consisting of a sleeve to engage the respective member and means for clamping the sleeve on the member, each sleeve having a bearing part for interlocking contact with the bearing part of, the other sleeve to admit the relative angular adjustment and locking of the sleeves, and means disposed for rigidly securing said sleeves against relative displacement and retaining said bearing parts in interlocked engagement with each other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, 1 have signed my name hereto.

F, DAVIDSON. 

